Congenital glaucoma
Congenital glaucoma, present from birth, and infantile glaucoma, appearing before the age of 3, are rare forms of glaucoma that affect infants and young children.
Disease simulation
Definition and symptoms
What is congenital glaucoma?
Congenital glaucoma is related to a developmental abnormality at birth, at the angle between the iris and cornea, which impedes the flow of fluids inside the eye.
This abnormality leads to an increase in intraocular pressure that affects the nerve cells of the retina. Under the increase in intraocular pressure, the newborn's eye becomes deformed, and the cornea appears enlarged and cloudy.
This anomaly can be hereditary, it is of genetic origin and is one of the main causes of childhood blindness (and severe visual impairment).
Who can be affected by congenital glaucoma?
Congenital glaucoma affects about 1 in 10,000 births.
How does congenital glaucoma affect patient?
People suffer from photophobia (glare in the light, discomfort associated with pain) and clear tearing.
If diagnosis and management are prompt, the visual prognosis can be preserved. Otherwise, the patient may experience alterations that can lead to blindness, in particular: an alteration of the visual field, in the periphery, and a decrease in visual acuity, i.e. blurred vision despite an appropriate optical correction.
Treatments for congenital glaucoma
Treatment for congenital glaucoma is surgical, to regulate the flow of intraocular fluids. This treatment must be offered as soon as possible (with significant post-surgical follow-up) to preserve the visual prognosis. Additional drug treatment (eye drops) may sometimes be necessary.
Possible difficulties faced by patients with congenital glaucoma
Recognising signs in the distance: street signs, movie subtitles, pedestrian lights, etc. or recognising faces are made difficult by congenital glaucoma. Patients find it difficult to read information on a screen: surfing the Internet, reading an email, etc. or read a book, newspaper, magazine, etc. Patients with congenital glaucoma also have difficulty looking at photos or avoiding obstacles in the street: poles on sidewalks, holes in the road, a passer-by, a stroller, etc.